Method and apparatus for uniformly drying and curing a resin impregnated endless textile strip



June 20, 1950 c. B. ALBRIGHT 2,

- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY DRYING AND CURING A RESIN IMPREGNATED ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP 6 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed March 15, 1946 INVENTDH CHARLES B ALBRIGHT w ym ETTURNEQS June 20, 1950 c. B. A'LBRIGHT 2,512,128 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY DRYING AND CURING A RESIN IMPREGNATED ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP Filed March 15, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR CHARLES B.ALBR|GHT BY .7 #Zuvw'n ATTORNEYS June 20, 1950 c. B. ALBRIGHT 2,512,128 v METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFQRMLY DRYING AND CURING A RESIN IMPREGNATED. ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP Filed March 15, 1946 '6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVE NTDR CHARLES B. ALBRIGHT v HTTDRNEHJE June 20, 1950 c. B. ALBRIGHT 2,512,128

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY DRYING AND CURING A RESIN IMPREGNATED ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP Filed March 15, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 .miiibwiw liv l p l dvm I n oE INVENTDR CHARLES B ALBRIGHT HTTDENLE -QS June 20, E c. B. ALBRIGHT 2,512,128

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY DRYING AND CURING A RESIN IMPREGNATED ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP Filed March 15, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTDR CHARLES B ALBRIGHT iw M HTTD ENE-ES 2,512,128 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNIFORMLY DRYING AND CURING C. B. ALBRIGHT June 20, 1950 A RESIN IMPREGNATED ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP Filed March 15, 1946 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 can INVENTOR CHARLES B. ALBRIGHT ATTORNEYS large as feet'w'id'e and 225 feet long;-

Patented June 20, 1950 Miirnon Ann APPARATUS FORUNIFQRMLY DRYING'AND CURING A RESIN IMPREG- NATED ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP -Charles B.- Albright,;New York, N. Y., assignor to r The Orr Felt, & Blanket Company,

a corporation of Qhio Piqua, Ohio,

ApplicationMairch 15, 1946, Serial No. 654,697

" 13 Claims. (o1.117 .103) 4 This invention relates to a method and apparatus for processing felts, that is, endlesswool. belts, that are adapted for use; particularly.onv papermaking machines, but which: can be applied to other uses. 1.

In using felts, or endless belts, upon papermaking machines and other typesof'machines, it isa moreor less universal experiencethat the felts have a relatively short lifefthisbeingp'ar ticularly true of felts manufactured from pure wools. The shortness of life of the felts is due to various factor such as mechanical wear or chemical or bacterial action upon the felts.

It ha's'been found, however, thatby applying certain resins to the-felts afterthey'havebeen manufactured, and properly curing the resin within the body of the'felt, that the life or the felt is greatly increased. However, the proper drying and curing of the resins on the felts has involved a problembecause the size of; the feltsvaries greatly, depending upod-theirparticular' use and particular machines. The felts can b'e as Also, to cure the resins in the body ofthe felt, it is necessary that elevated temperatures be used for this purpose and a large volume of air be circulated around and through the felt while itis being cured so as to obtainthe desiredtema perature rise of the resi'nand to drive off volatile materials.

Ithas been found that the melaminearcsins:

such as the alkylated melamine-formaldehyde resins are especially advantageousin prolonging the life of the felts. However, toproperly dry the felt after ithas been saturated by a solution of the melamineresin it is necessary that the body of the felt be elevated to a temperature,

above 200 F., averaging around250 R, and

when the felt has been dried to a predetermined degree of dryness, the resin will be cured at the, same elevated temperature orthe temperature the resin solution and a portion of the solution is centrifuged from thebodyof the felt to reducethe overall quantity of resin solution retainedin the body of the felt to apoint that when the felt is dry, the retained resin will represent approximately 5% of the dry weight of the felt. After the felt has passed through the centrifuging operation, or solution eliminating operation, thefeltis" then to bedriedat elevated temperatures to reduce the moisture content of the felt to a sufficiently low point that the resin retained in the body'of the felt can be cured for permanent retention within the body'of the felt. This curing operation is also required to be carried forward at elevated temperatureto complete the polymerization or condensation of the resin.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for drying and curing a resin within a felt or endless fabric belt in a continuou process, and also to carry for- Ward the process automatically under full automatic control of the various factors involved in drying and during a felt.

It isanother object of the invention to provide a method and'apparatus in accordance. with.

the foregoing "object wherein the continuous process of drying andcuring' the. resin in a felt is carried, forward by intermittent'stages both during the drying and curing operations.

It is still another object of theinvention to provide av method and an apparatus for drying and curing a felt or endless fabric belt by intermittently causing the felt or belt to be brought into an atmosphere of high temperature to, drive excess liquid from the felt to dry the same and to continue the process of intermittently placing the felt into an atmosphere of high temperature for subseguently curing resin retained within the may be increased to'asmuch as 400- F. It is,

desired that the amount of. resin retained in; the

. felt shall be approximately 5% of the; dry weight of the felt, considering the normal moisture con tent of the felt of approximately 12%. k

It has also been found that other, resins of similar character can be used in treating the felts for the purpose of increasing their resistance to j abrasion and resistance to chemical and bacterial action. In all instances, however, it is found to be preferable to use the resins in a water solution, inwhich the felt can be placedfor saturation thereof by the solutionof the resin. After-the body of the felt immediately upon the body of the felt reaching a predetermined degree of dryness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method andan apparatus for drying and ouring a felt, or an endless fabric belt, by alternately. heating and coolingthe same during the drying or the curing operation.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a method and an apparatus for drying and ouringa feltwherein the felt contains a high moisture content and is dried to a predetermined.

I moisture content and automatically placed upon felt is thoroughly saturated,it is removedfrom a cycle for curing the resin in the felt.

Another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus capable of accomplishing the foregoing :Objects wherein-theapparatus for drying and curing the felts consists of a relatively small heating chamber through which the felt is passed a plurality of times to obtain intermittent heat elevation of the felt for drying the same and for curing the resin in the body of the felt.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an apparatus in accordance with the foregoing object wherein the drying of the felt and the curing of the resin therein is obtained by the use of high temperature circulating air that is impinged upon and conducted through the body of the felt to obtain a uniform drying action upon the felt and a uniform curin action upon the resin in the felt.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus for drying a feltand for ouring the resin therein by applying high temperature circulating air to the felt wherein a certain percentage of air of low moisture content is continuously admitted into the air circulating system and an equal percentage of air of a high moisture content is continuously exhausted from the air circulating system, and also wherein the percentage of air admitted to the system and exhausted therefrom is proportioned according to the temperature of atmospheric air and its ability to pick up moisture.

Another object of the invention is to provide a fully automatic control system for accomplishing the method of drying a felt and of curing the resin therein set forth in the foregoing objects.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved mechanism for accomplishing the foregoing objects.

Further objects and advantages will become apparent from the drawings and the followin description. I

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational plan view of the general arrangement of the apparatus of this invention.

Figure 2 is a somewhat schematic cross-sectional perspective view of the chambers arranged for circulation of the conditioned air through the system and for admixture of fresh air and exhaust of spent air from the system.

Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of a fully automatic control system controlling the apparatus of this invention.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken through the air circulating chambers of the apparatus and showing the mounting for the drum adapted to carry the felt or endless fabric belt through the drying and curing chamber of the apparatus.

Figure 5 is a Vertical cross-sectional view of the drying and curing chamber of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is an elevational view illustrating the mechanism for stretching the felt or endless belt to a predetermined length while drying the felt and curing the resin therein.

Figure 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 1-! of Figure 4 illustrating the mounting for the drying and curing drum.

Figure 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially along line 8-8 of Figure 4.

Figure 9is a cross-sectional view of the drying or curing drum taken substantially along line 99 of Figure 5.

Figure 10 is an elevational view of the lefthand end of the machine illustrated in Figure 1, which mechanism is provided for supporting the felt and for stretching the same to length,.and

ber lll through which the felt or endless belt I'Lp'asses for drying thereof and for curing a resin therein. The endless belt I l is stretched between a drum provided within the chamber In,

and hereinafter described, and a roll or drum l2 carried in cantilever fashion from a bearing structure [3 that is supported upon the frame members l4 extending between the tracks 15. The frame structure 14 carries suitable wheels that ride upon the tracks 5 to allow for movement of the roll l2 toward or away from the heating and curing chamber H], as determined by the length of a belt or felt I l to be treated.

To move the frame structure or members i-i upon the tracks I5, gear racks are provided parallel to the tracks l5. These racks I! are engaged by. pinions I8 carried upon a drive shaft I9 extending longitudinally of the frame members M. The drive shaft l9 carries a pinion 20 that is driven by an electric motor 2| through a gear reducing mechanism 22.

The heating and curing chamber Ill is supplied with conditioned air at elevated temperature through the inlet ducts 23 and 24, the inlet duct 23 entering the upper portion of the drying and curing chamber ID, as illustrated in Figure 5 and the inlet duct 24 entering the drying and curing chamber alonga side wall thereof and forming the side wall, as illustrated in Figure 5. The supply ducts 23 and 24 are supplied with conditioned air under pressure from a fan 25 which is preferably of the squirrel-cage type for discharging air under pressure into the ducts 23 and 24. The fan 25 receives its inlet air from a mixing chamber 26 that has an inlet duct 21 extending to a point exterior of the building in which the apparatus is stationed for the purpose of providing outdoor air to the mixing chamber 26.

Themixing chamber 26 is also provided with an exhaust duct 28 that-extends to a point exteriorally of the building in which the apparatus is assembled to discharge air from the mixing chamber '26. The mixing chamber 26 is also connected to the drying and curing chamber in through the hollow interior of the drum mounted therein, in a manner hereinafter described, to allow the fan 25 to draw air from the chamber [0 into the mixing chamber 26 which is on the suction side of the fan 25.

The fan 25 is connected to any suitable power source such'as the motor 25a for driving the same.

As more specifically shown in Figure 2, the fan 25 consists of a squirrel-cage rotor 35 positioned within a scroll-type housing 3| having a side inlet 32 and a discharge duct 33, which discharge duict 33 becomes the duct 24 and the branch duct23. The inlet openin 32 communicates with the chamber 35 of the mixing chamber 25. The chamber 35 has an inlet opening controlled by a set of controllable louvers 36 disposed'in the partition wall 31 between the chainber 35 and the chamber 38.

' The chamber 38 communicates with the interior of the roll or drum mounted within the drying and curing chamber it) through means of a duct 39 connected with the chamber 33 through the opening 40.

'The chamber 35 is also provided with a second inlet opening controlled by a set of cont the chamber id.

openings 52 therein that extend along the length of the drum 60 so that air from the duct 2-3.will

be impinged downwardly upon the felt tl pass ing over the drum fill. The front wall 53 of. the

ber 62.

trollable louvers 4| thatare placed in the inlet duct 21 for regulating the quantity of outdoor air admitted into the chamber 25v for admixture with the air re-circulated in the system through the controllable louvers 35.

The chamber 38 is provided opening that has a set of controllable .louvers '32 therein, 1 and which are positioned in the ex-i 'haust duct 23 to regulate the amount of air e:-:- hausted from the air circulating system. The louvers or dampers ll, 36vand 42 are automatically controlled to varythe amount of air re-circulated in the system, the amount, of l out" door air admitted to the system, the amcuntcf air discharged from the system, andffor controlling the air circulating system to provide for circulation of all outdoor air through the sys! teni with no re-circulation.

Thechan-lber 3.5 is provided with of heating units for heatin the air passing to the fan 25. The heating units may be of any with an outlet 7 a plurality 6 illi and allowsl'for passage. of air froni within the chamber I through the felt l:l;iinto the :interior 6,8 OfthGPdlHmpW." The metal plates fil and'zilis close; opposite ends of;:the frame 155 so -that all of the air entering-the; interior-of the drum 60 must pass through the screen frame 65. 1 q I l 1 bea i drum" 6 c mmunic tes with the duct 39 in the mixing chamber 26 forreturn of ai -z om ithe dr n u n c a ber 1, ,1 0. the mixing chamber 26. l a a a To insure a uniform movement of air through the screen frame 65 of -the drum 60 throughout its entire length, there provided 1 aseries of baflles arranged within the interior 66 of the suitable type, either electric or gas, but the present instance are gas heaters automatically controlled to regulate the temperature of the air delivered by the fan through the ducts 23 and a 2d into the drying and curing chamber ill".

The drying and curing chamber it, and the drying and curing drum contained therein more specifically illustrated in Figures l, 5, 7

and 9. The drying and curing chamber l0 con prises a rear wall 45 that is stationary with reupper wall 4! of the chamber is and the inlet duct 25 discharges adjacent the rear wall d5 of The duct 23 has a series of jet duct 24 is also provided with .asseriesof jet openings 5d that cause air to be impingerl horizo'ntally upon theqfeltl'l carried by the drum'tll.

- The large volume of air under pressure ex-i hausted through the jet openings 52 and 54 causesyan internal circulation of air within the chamber ill to such an extent that six toten Figures 5, '7' and 9, consists of a. bearing drum 6 I that hassecured therein across-shaped meme from the right-hand end of the bearing drum 6!,

shown in Figure 9, and has plate members secured thereon at right angles to the cross mem- The members 63 extend longitudinally along the vmember 62 from the bearing drum 6| 'to the end of the member 62. The plate mem-v 'bers 63 support a spirally wound metal strip 64 that extends from end to end. of the plates 63.;

The spirally wound strip 64 supports a wire frame or, drum 65. This wire frame or drum 65' supports the felt :I I" as carrieclover thecurlng: drum;

lber 62. The cross-shaped member 62 extends 60.. An. outer seriesof baffles ID are secured to the plates 83 and form substantially aclosed re'care securedto the cross-framestructure Bland further divide the interior of Ivthe drum intoadditional chambers. T This latter series of bellies-(H extend substantiallytwo-thirds'the'length of the drum at, J s;.111us rates.mer ers 9. The-ab rangement of the bafiles just njientioned, therefore, provides for three separatech'ambe'rs 12; [3 audit! through which returnair movestoward the mixing chamber zfifand insures a relatively uniform movement ofitair throughflth'e screen frame 65,. throughout the length of the. t drum Thedryingand curing drum 60 is. carried' in cantilever fashion by the bearing ringsi'liaand lfld fsupported by roller bearings 14a that are carried in pillowbloc'ks "F5 supported upon aifrarrie A set "ofjroll'er bearings'l'il'a'in pillow blocks 15 is providedfor the ring 12a, andacorrespond-i ing set of roller bearings, is provided for thebearing ring 1311." Thus, the drying" and curingdrum 60 is cantilevered so that the screen frame 65 is ,completelyflfree and open-from one 7 end thereof,

to allow for placement of an endless-felt or fabric beltupon'thesamel I l v The pillow blocks 15 may eachbe separately adjustable *to control the bearing pressure upon the bearing rings 12a and 13a. The pillow blocks I5 may thus be mountedupon tapered supporting plates 18 that are adjusted relative to one another by means of screws or bolts I9,-see Figure 7.

Theidrying and curing drum 60 is rotated by an electric motor that drives a gear 8| through a belt connection-82. The gear 8| in turn drives a ring gear 83 secured to the bearing drum 6| between the bearing rings 12a and 13a thereon.

I The bearing structure l3 that carries the drum 'I2rprev10usly described, is of the same general type as disclosed with reference to the bearin structurethat supports the drying and curing drum 60. l i

To load a felt or endless fabric belt upon the drums l2 and 60, an overhead trolley system is provided for carrying the felt or belt into'position upon therespective drums. The overhead trolley. system may consist of an overhead track i supported by beams 9| from the ceiling of the building. The track 90 supports a conveyor 93 having suitable wheels 94 supported by the track 90. The carrier 93 supports a substantially U- s'haped carrying arm95 upon which the felt or belt ll ispositioned. The arm can therefore pass freely over either of the rolls I2 or 60 for the purpose of placing the endless felt or belt upon .the rolls. The access door 48 in. the top wall of the drying and curing chamber [0 allowsfor movement ofwthe carriage longitudinally outdoor .air :into the mixing chamber-{and :an.

along 'thechamber to allow placement 'of the belt-:I I-hpdh theiroll lifll 2 11. 1 ir s 1 '--'In "general; the operation of the "apparatus is that when a paperm'akers felt or an eh'dl'ess fabric belt is't'o be-placed-upoir the'apparatus for the purpose of drying the sameand curing'a resin contained in the body *of'the belt","j-the; oula-ti'ng system is-inactive upon renderin the fan inactive1 Ihe dium' 'l; is movedtoward the" drum 60 a sufficient distanceto-all'ow o'r plac e' ment of thef desired length of belt for 'lt' -be tween-the drums"l 2 and 60,. At thistinie the heatingunitslin the'n'iixing dhambrZG are v -3' 1' 1 fl r I;

Anfleindles s felt or beltl ll will-have been pre; W YLiP QQ d t t t r eireira th a clution" of a resin that is to be ,cu'redQWit'hin jthe drbfL eIIBlfi ,"l ej r cr prepares e, rem forthe' drying "and curing opellatio 'rna' i desired m e imie his ll rit n i fid f' rected particularly to ":only; the drying of (the felt and-the curing 5-0: the resin there The wet felt is placed upon the'arm 95 of "the overhead trolley system previously described and shown in E' 'giire' 1'0 and one or more trolleys car-I ryingf the felt vll are moved. overthje f and 60 to'placefthe felt. upon'jtheirespecti 1 drums. ,It.is. ofcourseunderstood that ari'o r.-v head trolley is provided for cooperation with each of the drums 12 and 601 j 7 When .the ,fel tff H has been placed upon the drums l2 and '60; ,thedrum I2 is meve 'away t a n. the drum; 60' by .bperaudii of the motor 2'I,'see" Figure 1, untilth'e'slack in the felt H between drums I2 and 60 is takenup. The drying. and curing chamber. In is ,thenvclosedby placing the. partition walls of fthechaniber the full-line position indicated in Figure Jeane; i d maet n lde 5 h c sab e-T 45 pened. o a .m.'th @d i i e id r l "te et"! e nsem e? th II at the opening provided between he sections 50 a o t e ch e 1 @Th iian 1 wt ni sta ed inuore a oni an the 10 ye s.4 .a 2: are o nedde ndt e louver 36 :closedytovcause circulation pf; all out-f d or a x r us rthedry ean ur neichamber. 0. anda e. di c a s drthro sh the exhaust. duct 28 to thereby purge the entire air circulating system ofany gases,.-that ma have-accumulated therein; 1 :1 15? ".The heating units, .43 .are thenprenderedactive) to heat the; air 2 toga predetermined temperature; as controlled automatically in"aiimanner here-e inafter described; i 3 Any selevated temperature desired may. he -maintained;idependingv ;;.upon; the resinto be cured and the materialsi ;,the felt-; The drum :60. is rotated by the .motorgtdso that. the heated air discharged from the ducts iZtand 24 intothezinterior' of. the chamber .lEl-willimpinge upon and: pass through thefelt'i ijtocdrive moisture or volatile matter therefrom. into .the interior of the drum.:.-.6fi," theispent;air-massing out ofthe interior of the drum fiilz-ithroughfthe. duct 39 into 'thebmixing chamber 26. Atathis U time-the louver 3,6 is fully}. open and the. louvers M and M are partially open to thereby obtain recirculation of. air through the-farr25 and ob.. tain an admission of a predetermined volumetriexhaust of'a predetermined; quantityoffspentair. U} through the exhaust duct 28. If the-continuous length belt H is' of aswidth less than thei'lengtlr of the drurfitt, -'fabric.strip.-:'can be placedaround "the driim -at the edges: of the belt allow for thisstretching'operation without 8f; extreme cases to prevent by-passing of any major portion of the air around the fabric belt.

The drum rotating slowly carries the felt or endless fabric belt H through the drying and curing chamber H! a plurality of times before the felt is dried to a point at which curing of the resin in the felt can start. It is preferable to dry the endless felt by intermittent stages rather than endeavoring to dry the same by one passage thereof through the drying and curing chamber because lower elevated temperatures can be used for this purpose and the danger of charring the felt or fabric belt is avoided.

As the drying operation of the felt proceeds, the moisture content of the felt gradually drops until the moisture content is approximately 4 or 5% of the dry weight of the felt, at which time it is considered that curing of the resin begins. The intermittent heating of the felt is then continued by continuing the intermittent passage of the portions of the felt through the drying and curing chamber for a predetermined period of time until it is determined that the resin is cured throughout the area of the belt.

The curing of the resin in the felt by inter mittent stages is a preferable method since it will avoid any possible over-curing of local areas in the felt which may result from a re-entry of the initially cured portion of the felt when it returns to the drying and curing chamber, should the operation be endeavored to be carried forward by a single passage of the felt through the drying and curing chamber.

After the heat has been applied to the felt for the predetermined curing time, the heating units are rendered inactive and the dampers ll and-i2 are fully opened and the damper 35 closed to allow for circulation of all outdoor air through the heating and curing chamber H) for the purpose of quickly purging the chamber of heated air and thereby avoid over-curing of any local portion of the felt ll. Upon completion of the purging of the chamber ll) of heated air, the louvers 4| and 42 may again be re-set at their proportioning positions and the louver 36 opened to again allow recirculation of air through the mixing chamber. When the system is in this condition, humidification can be supplied to the circulating air to return the felt or endless fabric belt-to its normal moisture content, which averages approximately 12% of the dry weight of the felt.

. After the humidification process has been completed, the drying and curing chamber can be opened and the felt removed from the drums l2 and 60.

In order to manufacture the felt H to a predetermined length, the felt II is stretched during the drying operation previously described by causing the drum l2 to be moved away from the"drum'ilifl until 'the proper length is obtained for thfe'ltnil-llf; It is}: of course, understood that the feltis manufactured to a suflicient length to causing any-damageto the body ofthe felt. Y

v :A control system for automatically controlling the 'complete cycleofbpe'ration' of the apparatus hereinbefore-described in diagrammatically illustrated in 'tfFigure The instrument controls referred' to'iherein are of a: type known as airactuated controls-,- and specifically, the individual controls f-arer'manufactured I by the. Minneapolis- Honeywell" Regulator Company, Brown I Instruments: Division,-zan'd iarei standard controls ofthis company.-i flhereforey the furicti'oning'of the c various controls will be described with reference to the automatic control :of the apparatus described herein without reference ,to the details of the mechanism of the controls since the mechanisms ofwthe controlsare not a part of the subjectmatter of this-invention, but the particular functions which they produce in con.-

, trolling the apparatus of this vinvention do constitute a part of the method iof' control of, the apparatus for performing the method of drying.

and curing felts or endless 'belts, in accordance with this invention.

The controls referred to are a combination of air-actuated units andaelectrical'units which are operated in response to; the operation ofthe airactuated units. Hence,lthere is provided amain electrical controller that :is; provided-for energizing the power circuit for the instrmnentsand also energizes the fan 25 to startthe same. This particular electrical controller is not shown on the drawings because it can be aconvcntional mechanically maintained -con'ductor for main.- tainingaclosed'circuit. l

The controls for the 'apparatusconsist of an air flow switch A that is actuatedwhen the-fan Z5 is in operation and air circulated through the air circulating system hereinbefore described. Operation of theairflow-switch Aeffects actuation of a purging timer Tiswhich controls the periodof time through which air-is circulated throughthe drying and curing chamber It! prior to the beginning of the heatingcycle. The purg ing timer T1 subsequentl: effects operation of a flame-failure safety controller P for igniting the gas heating units 43 referred to hereinbefore. The flame-failure safetycontroller Prinsures ignition of the burners before actuation of any subsequent controls.

i The louvers ordamp'ers 4| are-actuated by air.

operated damper motors M1 andMz for controlling opening and closing thereof whileworrespondirig eral, theamountof outside air used will vary from 17% atan outdoor temperature. of 0 to approximately 27% atanoutdoor temperature of 95 F. 1

The damper motors M1,

switches V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5, respectively, to open and close the dampers; 4|, 42 and 36, respectively, in response to, operation of the purging timer T1, the curing timer T2 and the cooling timer T3 to shift the position of the dampers in accordance with the requirements for full fioW of I outdoor air through the aircirculating system or forrecir'culation withproportioned inlet of outdoor air and exhaust of spent air. The curing timer T2 regulatestheiperiod of the curing cycle referred to heretofore and the cooling timer Ts regulates the {period of purging of the drying and cooling chamber after; the curing cycle.

The gas: burners 43 receive their; gas-supply under control of the gas valve Gr which is under control of'the Protectpglo controllerPi so-that if the flame-failure safety controller ,Pi is satis- M2, M3, M4 and Ms are also 'actuatedby suitable pressure electric troller T01.

10 fied, the gas valveGwill remain open,-otherwise it will close. The air supply for the burners 43 is supplied by theablower B throu h the air. supply control valve AV which is regulated by the temperature controller 'ICz havingone thermal element E thereof responsive to the temperature of the air suppliedto the duct 33'for automatically controlling the, temperature of the heated air by regulating the quantity of air supplied withthe gas to the burners-43c A pressure switch PS1 is also provided fortcontrolling the gas valve G, and is responsive to-the pressure of the air de livered through the valveAV so that when the air delivered throughthe valve AV is at or below onethirdof-the capacity. thereof, the pressure switch will close the gas Valve G. This is .a.

will energize the timer 'I tosta-rt the timing of the curing cycle and will ringthe buzzer Hi! to indicate. that the curing cycle' has started.

A signal lightiitis provided for indicating when the flame-failure safety controller .Pi is not functioning, and the burners 43 are not ignited, the signal light being adapted to be turned on when the burners failto ignite.

The operation ofthe control.v system heretofore referred to,is such that the. operator of the ap paratus closes a main starter for energizing .the instrument power circuit and the motor 251; for the fan 25 as previously referred to. With the fan.25 operating. and air circulating through the air circulating-system,\theair flow switch A will beactuated to allow the purging timer T1 to begin timing of a purgingoperation before the heating cycle is started. Concurrently, the damp: er motors for thedampersfl, 42 and 36 areoperated to cause them Ito set'the, dampers for all outdoor air intake into, the mixing chamber 26 and exhaust of all. air throughthe exhaust duct 28... The signal lamp III iiwilllbe burning, indicat; ing that the burners 43 are not ignited.

9 When the purging timer Tiftimes out the flame"- failure safety controller P1 will ignite the burners 43. Concurrently, the] damper motors for the dampers 4|, 42 and 36' will be operated to set the dampers 4| and 42 for proportioning of outdoor air intake and the exhaust of air, as previously referred to and fully open the recirculating chambers 36. The dampers and 42 are then under control of theoutdoor temperature con- When the flame-failure safety device or con troller P1 is energized, the blower B rendered active for supplying air to the" burners 4 3 and the main gas valve G is'opened. If the flame-failure safety devicelis not satisfied by the burners 43 after a predetermined period of-time, the maingas valve G and theblower B willbe stopped, The relay R1 controls the blower B.

If the flame-failure safety device is satisfied upon ignition of the burners 4 3, the element of the temperature controller TCz actuated by the ther-' automatically; and; control the temperature of the 11 heated air delivered through'the s'up'pl'y duct 33 to a predetermined temperature,

Automatic control of the air'temperature in the supply duct 33 continues until the second control element of the temperature controller TC2 as actuated by the thermal element E2 in the return duct 39 reaches a temperatureapprox imating that of thetemperature control element E, thatis a, few degrees below the temperature of the control element E, thereby indicating that the felt I l on the drum 60 has been dried to a moisture content ofapproximately 4 to 5%'-of the dry weight of the felt At this time the pressure switch PS2 will be actuated to energize the buzzer H and start the running of the curing timer T2. g

When the curing timer ,Tz' times out, the buzzer llll stops, as controlled by the timer, the main gas valve G closes, the blower B stops, the outdoor air control dampers 4| and the exhaust dampers 42 open full and the re-circulated air damper 36 closes completely, as controlled by the flame-failure safety device under control of the curing timer, and concurrently, the purging timer T3 is energized for the cooling cycle or final purging cycle to cool the apparatus down before removing the felt therefrom f When the cooling timer T3 times out, the con trol system may be de-energi'zed and the drying and curing chamber In opened and the felt or endless belt removed therefrom. 1 "However, if it is desired to 're-humidify the felt up to its normal moisture content of approx-, imately 12% of the dry weight of the felt, the cooling timer T3 can control the damper motors for the respective dampersto again open the recirculating air damper 36 and to reset the proportioning dampers 4| and 42' to their propore tioning positions and concurrently initiate a humidification cycle through a humidifying device. Upon a moisture-sensitive device indicating a moisture content of the felt at a desired level, the moisture-sensitive device can actuate suitable controls to stop functioning of the con trolsystem. i

While the apparatus disclosed and described herein and the methodperformed by that apll ratus constitute a preferred form of the invention, yet it will be understood that the apparatils .is capable of mechanical alteration and that the method is capable ofvariation without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all modifications that fallwithin. the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein. 7

Application Serial Number 83,163, filed March 24, 1949, now Patent No. 2,506,760, claims matter disclosed but unclaimed in this application-- Having thus fully described my-invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureb rLetters Patent is: g

1. Apparatus for'drying an endless fabric strip in intermittent stages and for stretching the same that includes, a heating chamber, a foraminous cylinder positioned in said chamber for. rotation therein, an air duct extending alongone wall of said chamber longitudinally of saidcylinder and having a plurality of openings therein. for directing conditioned air exhausting from said duct against said cylinder, a, second .air duct positioned along a second .wall'of said chamber. angular to the first duct and having a plurality of openings therein through which conditioned air is exhausted against said cylindensaid cylin der having one end thereof open for discharging air received within said cylinder through the foraminous periphery thereof, :an opening in one wall of said chamber extending longltudinallyof said cylinder through which an endless fabric strip is introduced into said chamber and through which it is removed therefrom, and a second cylinder positioned outside said chamber parallel to the cylinder within said chamber and movable in its parallel position relative to said first cylin der for stretching an endless fabric strip extending between the said cylinders.

2. Apparatus for drying an endless fabric strip in intermittent stages and for stretching the same that includes, a heating chamber, a foraminous cylinder positioned in said chamber for rotation therein, an air duct extending along one wall of said chamber longitudinally of said cylinder and'having a plurality of openings therein for directing conditioned :air exhausting from said duct against said cylinder, a second air duct positioned along a second wall of said chamber normal to the first duct and having a plurality of openings therein through which conditioned air is exhausted against said cylinder, said cylinder having one end thereof open for discharging air received within said cylinder through the foraminous periphery thereof, an opening in one Wall of said chamber extending longitudinally of said cylinder through which an endless fabric strip is introduced into said chamber and through which it is removed therefrom, and a, second cylinder positioned outside said chamber parallel to the cylinder within said chamber and movable in its parallel position relative to said first cylinder for stretching an endless fabric strip extending between the said cylinders.

3. Apparatus for treating an endless fabric strip with conditioned air and for stretching the same that includes, a heating chamber, a foraminous cylinder positioned in said chamber for rotation therein and having one end thereof extending through an end wall of said chamber, bearing support means engaging said extending portion of said cylinder for rotatably supporting the same, duct means in said chamber extending longitudinally of said cylinder having a plurality of openings therein for directing conditioned air against said cylinder, said cylinder having the said extending end thereof open for discharging air received within said cylinder through the foraminous periphery thereof, an opening in one wall of said chamber extending longitudinally of said cylinder through which an endless fabric strip is introduced into said chamber and through which it is removed therefrom, and a second cylinder positioned outside said chamber parallel to the cylinder within said chamber and movable in its parallelposition relative to said first cylinder for stretching an endless fabric strip extending between the said cylinders.

l, Apparatus for drying an endless fabric strip that includes, a heating chamber, a foraminous cylinder rotatable in said chamber for receiving an endless fabric strip, duct means positioned longitudinally along said cylinder and having a plurality of openings therein for directing conditioned air against the periphery of said cylinder, and means within said cylinder forming a plurality of separate chambers of increasing size coaxial with said cylinder, each of said chambers decreasing in length from one end of said cylinder and from the central chamber therein outwardly to obtain uniform movement of air through the'periphery of said cylinder.

5; Apparatus for drying an endless fabric strip in said heating chamber.

entence pluralityof separate chambersof increasing size coaxial with said cylinderpeach of. said chambers decreasing. in: length from one end of said cylinder and from the central chamber therein 14 in length from the duct end of said 'cylinder and from thecentral'chamber therein outwardly to obtain uniform movement of air through the outwardly to obtain uniform movement of air through the periphery of said cylindenweach of said chambers within said cylinder being subdivided into a plurality of subchambers for aiding the uniformity of air movement through said cylinder and the said chambers therein.

'6. Apparatus for treating an endless "fabric stripthat includes, a heating chamber, fa-foraminous cylinder positioned" within said chamber and having one end thereofe'xtending through an end wall of said chamber, duct means within said chamber extending longitudinally of said cylinder and having a plurality ofopenings' therein" for directing conditioned air" discharged from "said duct means against the periphery of saidcylin- "der', said extending end ofsaid'cylinderforming an air' discharge passage through which air is removed from'within said cylinder after passing through the periphery thereof, 'an air conditioning unit having meanstheieidfor circulating air and for conditioning air j in passage through the unit and including an air inlet and outlet openingasaidextending end of said cylinderconnecting said cylinder with the air'inlet opening of said unit, and duct means connecting" the air ,outlettopeningof saidunit" with the duct means 7. Apparatus for heat treating an endless fab- 'ricstrip that includes,.a heating chamber 'a fopositionedlongitudinally along said cylinder'and having a plurality of cpeningstherein for directing heated air in jetlike' streams against the periphery of said cylinder, said cylind'er'being closed at oneend thereof andopen at theopp Site end whereby all air directed'into the lcham-ber must pass through the foraminous periphery of said cylinderinto the interior thereoffs'aid open end of said cylinder forming a duct extending through an end Wall of said chamber, and bearing means engaging said duct portion of said cylinder to provide for cantilever support of said cylinder within said chamber.

8. Apparatus for heat treating an endless fabric strip that includes, a heating chamber, a foraminous cylinder rotatable in said chamber for receiving an endless fabric strip, duct means positioned longitudinally along said cylinder and having a plurality of openings therein for directing heated air in jet-like streams against the periphery of said cylinder, said cylinder being closed at one end thereof and open at the opposite end whereby all air directed into the chamber must pass through the foraminous periphery of said cylinder into the interior thereof, said open end of said cylinder forming a duct extending through an end wall of said chamber, bearing means engaging said duct portion of said cylinder to provide for cantilever support of said cylinder within said chamber, and means within said cylinder forming a plurality of separate chambers of increasing size positioned coaxial with said cylinder, each of said chambers decreasing periphery of said cylinder; a

9.. Apparatus "for heat treating an endless fabric strip that includes; a heating :chamber, a forarninous cylinder rotatable in said chamber for receivingan endless fabricstrip, duct means positioned longitudinally along said cylinder and having a plurality ofopeningstherein for directing heated air'in jet-like streams against the periphery of said cylinder, said cylinder being nosed at: one end thereof and open at the opposite end whereby 'all' 'air directed into the. chamiberlmust passthrough the foraniinous periphery er said cylinder into the interior thereof, said open end 'of saidcylinder forming'a duct extending through anend wall of said chamber, bearing a lrneans'engaglng said duct'portionof said cylinder to provide for cantilever supportof: said cylinder within said "chamber, andmeans within said.

cylinderzforming a plurality of separatechambers of increasing size 'pos'itionedcoa'xial with said cylinder, each of said chambers decreasing in length from-the duct end of said cylinder and "fro-znthe central chamb'er'therein outwardly int'o 'sirbstantially equalilongitudinally positioned component partst'o obtain uniform movement of ai through:theperip'hery'ofsaidicylinder.

4-0 rarninous cylinder rotatable in said chamber for. receiving an endless fabric strip, ductr;means 10. Apparatus for treating an endless fabric st'r'ip'with'conditioned air and'for stretching the same that includes, a heating chamber, a forami- :nc=us .cylinder: positioned in said chamber for ro- 'tatio'n therein and having a non-#foraminous' lporcan at one end thereof "extending through an end wall of said chambenbearing support'meansen- 'gagingsaid'extending portion of said cylinder for rotatably supporting the same, duct means in said chamber extending longitudinally .of said cylinder having a plurality ofo'peningstherein for directing conditioned air against said cylinder,

said cylinder having the said extending end thereofopen for discharging air received within said cylinder through the foraminous periphery thereof, an opening in one wall of said chamber extending Y longitudinally of said cylinder through which anendless fabric strip is introduced into said ch'amber andthrough which it is removed "therefrom, and a second cylinder positioned 'outand having one end thereof extending through] an end wall of said chamber, duct means within said chamber extending longitudinally of said cylinder and having a plurality of openings therein for directing conditioned air discharged from said duct means against the periphery of said cylinder, said extending end of said cylinder forming an air discharge passage through which air is removed from within said cylinder after passing through the periphery thereof,'an air conditioning unit havin means therein for circulating air and for conditioning air in passage through the unit and including an air inlet and outlet opening, duct means connecting said extending end of said cylinder with the air inlet opening of said unit, and duct means connecting the air outlet opening of said unit with the duct means in said heatmg chamber.

15 12. A method of treating intermittently successive portions of an endless textile strip to establish in the strip a predetermined state of conditioned treatment that is'concurrently uniform throughout the length of the strip upon completion of the treatment that includes, continuously delivering successive portions of a textile strip into a heating chamber and continuously withdrawing equal portions from the chamber after heating and. before the predetermined state of conditioned treatment can be established in any portionof the strip in any single passage through i the heating chamber, the total length of the strip within th'e'heating chamber at any one time being only a small portion of the total treated length of the strip, delivering heated air intothe heating chamber on one side of the tex- "tile strip and concurrently withdrawing air from the-heating chamber on the opposite side of the textile strip to establish movement of the heated air transversely through the textile strip, re-introducing the said portions of the textile strip into the heating chamber a plurality oftimes to in- 'cool air into the heating chamber at a tempera ture substantially lower than that of the air in the heating chamber while continuing the movement of the textile strip through the heating chamber to cause rapid reduction of the temperature of the heating chamber and the textile strip moving therethrough at the end of the treatment period to prevent over-treatment of any portion of the textile strip. 13. A method of drying and uniformly curing van endless textile strip substantially uniformly impregnated with a solution containing a heat curable resin, which method includes, continuously delivering successive small portions of one run of said impregnated endless textile strip into 'a-heating chamber heated to a temperature sulficient to cure the resin, and continuously withdrawing equal small portions of the other run of the strip from the chamber'after heating and before any substantial curing of the resin is efiected in any portion of the strip in any single passage through the heating chamber, the total length of the strip within the heating chamber at any one time being only a small portion of the total length of the strip, and repassing the textile strip into and through the heating chamber a plurality of times in accordance with the aforesaid delivery procedure to substantially continuously heat treat all portions of the endless textile strip uniformly throughout the length thereof, whereby the textile strip is dried and the resin impregnant is fully and uniformly cured throughout the length of the strip.

' CHARLES B. ALBRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in th file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 177,196 Braunhold May 9, 1876 920,351 Layland et a1 May 4, 1909 1,047,958 Lofquist Dec. 24, 1912 1,056,121 Prindle Mar. 18, 1913 1,377,591 Kuhlemeier May 10, 1921 1,427,437 Breuer Aug. 29, 1922 1,495,143 Allsop et al May 27, 1924 1,523,509 Braemer Jan. 20, 1925 1,552,099 Walsh Sept. 1, 1925 1,601,332 Whiteheadet al. Sept. 28, 1926 "1,642,834 Yeomans Sept. 20, 1927 1,675,160 Carroll June 26, 1928 1,707,547 Adams Apr. 2, 1929 1,738,520 Beadle Dec. 10, 1929 1,796,198 Gehnrich Mar. 10, 1931 2,001,345 Forty May 14, 1935 2,040,328 Olson May 12, 1936 2,050,625 Orr 1 Aug. 11, 1936 2,057,903 Moreland Oct. 20, 1936 2,065,636 Whipple et a] Dec. 29, 1936 2,093,922 Meyer Sept. 21, 1937 2,134,544 Ashley Oct. 25, 1938 2,252,181 Hunter Aug. 12, 1941 2,301,249 Butterworth, Jr. et a1. Nov. 10, 1942 2,325,204 Kilborn July 27, 1943 2,372,790 Morgenstern Apr. 3, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 576,707 Germany Nov. 21, 1931 v 383,447 I Great Britain Nov. 17, 1932 393,417 Great Britain June 8, 1933 524,985 Great Britain Aug. 20, 1940 

1. APPARATUS FOR DRYING AN ENDLESS FABRIC STRIP IN INTERMITTENT STAGES AND FOR STRETCHING THE SAME THAT INCLUDES, A HEATING CHAMBER, A FORAMINOUS CYLINDER POSITIONED IN SAID CHAMBER FOR ROTATION THEREIN, AN AIR DUCT EXTENDING ALONG ONE WALL OF SAID CHAMBER LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CYLINDER AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THEREIN FOR DIRECTING CONDITIONED AIR EXHAUSTING FROM SAID DUCT AGAINST SAID CYLINDER, A SECOND AIR DUCT POSITIONED ALONG A SECOND WALL OF SAID CHAMBER ANGULAR TO THE FIRST DUCT AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS THEREIN THROUGH WHICH CONDITIONED AIR IS EXHAUSTED AGAINST SAID CYLINDER, SAID CYLINDER HAVING ONE END THEREOF OPEN FOR DISCHARGING AIR RECEIVED WITHIN SAID CYLINDER THROUGH THE FORAMINOUS PERIPHERY THEREOF, AN OPENING IN ONE WALL OF SAID CHAMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID CYLINDER THROUGH WHICH AN ENDLESS FABRIC STRIP IS INTRODUCED INTO SAID CHAMBER AND THROUGH WHICH IT IS REMOVED THEREFROM, AND A SECOND CYLINDER POSITIONED OUTSIDE SAID CHAMBER PARALLEL TO THE CYLINDER WITHIN SAID CHAMBER AND MOVABLE IN ITS PARALLEL POSITION RELATIVE TO SAID FIRST CYLINDER FOR STRETCHING AN ENDLESS FABRIC STRIP EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SAID CYLINDERS.
 13. A METHOD OF DRYING AND UNIFORMLY CURING AN ENDLESS TEXTILE STRIP SUBSTANTIALLY UNIFORMLY 